Victoria sets new rules for data centers

The Victorian Government has announced a new Sustainable Data Center Action Plan and new rules for data centers in Victoria.

• New data centers will need to power themselves with their own renewable energy supply and storage, match new demand with new generation, meet connection costs and network upgrades, and use recycled or non-drinking water for cooling.
• The rules also prohibit data centers in residential zones, impose a 150-metre buffer from homes, require traffic management plans, and create a Local Investment Guarantee for local benefits such as jobs, TAFEs and parks; the government says the new rules are not retrospective for applications already under assessment.